U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has introduced new legislation, the Electric Vehicle Credit Act, to give employers the opportunity to provide employees with electric cars access to the same pre-tax transportation benefits many workers receive for traditional forms of transportation including public transportation allowances, parking fees and public transit passes.
“As more Ohioans choose to drive electric to save on gas and reduce pollution, it’s important that employers have the opportunity to offer vehicle charging as a workplace benefit,” said Brown of the national legislation. “Many workers are already able to exclude bus passes and parking fees from their taxable income and offering workers using new transportation options this same benefit help Ohio employers recruit and retain talent.”
The Electric Vehicle Credit Act, endorsed by the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), would exclude transportation benefits for electric vehicle charging from an employee’s taxable income. This would be the same as employees who can exclude other transportation benefits such as transit passes or parking fees. The Act would allow employers to give each employee up to $250 per month in electric charging benefits before the employee would be taxed. Brown says he believes this Act would help employees offer more competitive benefit packages.
Genevieve Cullen, president of the EDTA, said of the proposed bill, “EDTA applauds Senator Brown’s leadership on electric drive and this effort to promote charging in workplaces. Electrifying the daily commute allows employees to save on gasoline and communities to benefit from reduced pollution. Expanding electric vehicle charging in the workplace is an important step in moving toward smarter, cleaner electric transportation in Ohio and across the country.”